RAGHAVENDRA S.M. Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition is filed under Sec. 439 of Cr.P.C. seeking regular bail of the petitioner in Crime No. 7/2022 of Shravanabelagola Police Station, Hassan, for the offence punishable under Ss. 376 and 506 of IPC and Sec. 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 ('POCSO Act' for short).

(2.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for the respondent-State.

(3.) The factual matrix of the case of the prosecution is that the victim is the resident of Mallenahalli village and she was pursuing I PUC at Shravanabelagola and she came in contact with this petitioner and this petitioner being an auto driver used to drop her to her village. That on 2/5/2021 at about 12.30 p.m., when the victim girl came to Shravanabelagola, this petitioner dropped her to her house and when the victim invited him for coffee and when she was preparing coffee, he committed rape on her against her wish and caused threat to her not to reveal the same to anybody else. It is also an allegation that this petitioner went near the college in which she was pursuing her education and took her to his pump house and committed the sexual act and also persuaded her that he would marry her and subjected her for sexual act 8-10 times, as a result, she became pregnant. It is also an allegation that on 20/7/2021, he took her to Bookanabetta Ranganathaswamy Temple and married her and hence complaint was given and case has been registered and matter has been investigated and filed the charge-sheet.